Radium Ore Revigator
Encyclopedia
The Radium Ore Revigator was a pseudoscientific medical device consisting of a ceramic water crock
lined with radioactive materials. It was patented in 1912 by R. W. Thomas, an invalid in California, and manufactured by the Radium Ore Revigator Co., which sold thousands of the devices in the 1920s and '30s.
The Revigator was intended to be filled with water overnight, which would be irradiated by the uranium
and radium
in the liner, and then consumed the next day. This was marketed as a healthy practice which could prevent illnesses including arthritis, flatulence, and senility.
The Revigator contained carnotite
K2(UO2)2(VO4)2·3H2O. Water stored overnight in a vintage Revigator was analyzed by ICP/MS and radiation detectors. Although the water contained higher levels of radon, the health risk from radiation was low. But the water also contained arsenic, lead, vanadium, and uranium.
Crock (dishware)
A crock is a pottery container sometimes used for food and water, synonymous with the word pot, and sometimes used for chemicals. Derivative terms include crockery and crock-pot.A gypsy's crock is a cooking pot.-External links:...
lined with radioactive materials. It was patented in 1912 by R. W. Thomas, an invalid in California, and manufactured by the Radium Ore Revigator Co., which sold thousands of the devices in the 1920s and '30s.
The Revigator was intended to be filled with water overnight, which would be irradiated by the uranium
Uranium
Uranium is a silvery-white metallic chemical element in the actinide series of the periodic table, with atomic number 92. It is assigned the chemical symbol U. A uranium atom has 92 protons and 92 electrons, of which 6 are valence electrons...
and radium
Radium
Radium is a chemical element with atomic number 88, represented by the symbol Ra. Radium is an almost pure-white alkaline earth metal, but it readily oxidizes on exposure to air, becoming black in color. All isotopes of radium are highly radioactive, with the most stable isotope being radium-226,...
in the liner, and then consumed the next day. This was marketed as a healthy practice which could prevent illnesses including arthritis, flatulence, and senility.
The Revigator contained carnotite
Carnotite
Carnotite is a potassium uranium vanadate radioactive mineral with chemical formula: K222·3H2O. The water content can vary and small amounts of calcium, barium, magnesium, iron, and sodium are often present.-Occurrence:...
K2(UO2)2(VO4)2·3H2O. Water stored overnight in a vintage Revigator was analyzed by ICP/MS and radiation detectors. Although the water contained higher levels of radon, the health risk from radiation was low. But the water also contained arsenic, lead, vanadium, and uranium.